'After Modi's Clean Chit In 2020 Clash, China Continues Blocking Indian Access In Strategic Areas': Jairam Ramesh

Congress general secretary in charge of communication Jairam Ramesh today, once again, reminded the Indian public of the 2020 Chinses infringement on Indian territory and the subsequent remark by Prime Minister Modi. The Congress leader also listed out the restrictions that the Indian force continues to face in several strategic areas to this day.

In a post on X, Jairam Ramesh while issuing a statement, wrote, “Four years ago today, the non-biological Pradhan Mantri deeply compromised national security by giving China a public clean-chit in its infringements on Indian territory.”

The Congress spokesperson stated that today is the fourth anniversary of Prime Minister Modi’s infamous public clean-chit to China when he said ‘na koi hamari seema mein ghus aaya hai, na hi koi ghusa hua hai’ (No one has intruded and nor is anyone intruding, nor has any post been captured by someone) four days after the June 15, 2020 clash in Galwan in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed. The prime Minister had made the remark at an all-party meeting called by the government to discuss the violence on the India-China border. 

“Not only was it a profound insult to our fallen soldiers, it also legitimised Chinese control over 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory in eastern Ladakh. Indian troops are unable to access these areas to this day. Chinese forces continue to block Indian access in the strategic Depsang Plains at five patrolling points. Three more patrolling points in Demchok remain out of bounds for Indian soldiers. In Pangong Tso, our troops are restricted to Finger 3 when earlier they could go as far as Finger 8,” the Rajya Sabha MP said. 

He further said that the Indian graziers are no longer able to access Helmet Top, Mukpa Re, Rezang La, Rinchen La, Table Top and Gurung Hill in Chushul.  Soldiers can no longer access Patrolling Points 15, 16 and 17 In the Gogra-Hot Springs area, representing a major loss of territory to the hostile northern neighbour, the Congress leader stated referring to China.

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He then said that adding insult to injury, India was compelled to dismantle a memorial to the war hero Major Shaitan Singh when it withdrew from Rezang La in 2022 and ceded the area as a “buffer zone”. “Rezang La is the site of a heroic battle on 18 November 1962 when Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon fought off waves of attacks to inflict the biggest Chinese defeat of 1962. Major Shaitan Singh, who was posthumously awarded a Param Vir Chakra, and 113 brave soldiers gave their lives to defend eastern Ladakh, killing hundreds of enemy soldiers in the engagement. Yet India agreed to withdraw from the very spot where Major Shaitan Singh gave his life for his country,” he said.

Jairam Ramesh further claimed that since the PM’s clean chit, China has continued its aggressive moves along our border, including in Bhutanese territory. “it has expanded its influence in our immediate neighbourhood resulting in the removal of our troops from the Maldives. All this while our imports from China hit record levels, causing our MSMEs to suffer.”

The Congress leader then alleged that the Modi government meanwhile used the Godi media and its control over institutions to ensure that there is no proper debate on the biggest setback to Indian national security in sixty years.

Read also: External Ministry Expresses Strong Protest Over New China Map Which Claims India Territory

“The non-biological PM must end his silence, does he still believe that “na koi hamari seema mein ghus aaya hai, na hi koi ghusa hua hai, Has he ceded control over thousands of square kilometres in Depsang and Demchok to China for the foreseeable future?” the Congress leader asked.

The statement concluded by asking “when anyone be held accountable for India’s biggest strategic and intelligence failure in many decades.” 

Notably, it is not the first time the Congress leader is reminding the alleged ongoing Chinses aggression. In April, Jairam Ramesh had called the Prime Minister’s response to China feeble and ineffective, demanding an apology to 140 crore Indians. 

Four years ago today, the non-biological Pradhan Mantri deeply compromised national security by giving China a public clean-chit in its infringements on Indian territory. Our statement: pic.twitter.com/Vk1eySG85O

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 19, 2024